Ramayana — Yuddha Kanda, Sarga 3, Shloka 14

लङ्कादुर्गवर्णनम्

Description of Lanka’s Fortifications and Forces

Devanagari script

सौवर्णस्तुमहांस्तस्याःप्राकारोदुष्प्रधर्षणः ।मणीविद्रुमवैदूर्यमुक्ताविरचितान्तरः ।।।।

Transliteration

sauvarṇas tu mahāṃs tasyāḥ prākāro duṣpradharṣaṇaḥ | maṇī-vidruma-vaidūrya-muktā-viracitāntaraḥ ||

Translation

But its great rampart was golden and hard to assail, inlaid in places with gems, coral, vaidūrya stones, and pearls.

Word by Word

• द्वारेषु: at the gates
• द्वारेषु: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), बहुवचन

• संस्कृताः: prepared, made ready
• संस्कृताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शतघ्न्यः)

• भीमाः: terrible
• भीमाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भीम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शतघ्न्यः)

• कालायसमयाः: made of black iron
• कालायसमयाः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कालायस + मय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुष (कालायसेन मयाः = made of black iron)

• शिताः: sharpened
• शिताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शित (प्रातिपदिक; from धातु शि/शै 'to sharpen')
• Form: क्त (PPP used adjectivally), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शतघ्न्यः)

• शतशः: by hundreds
• शतशः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/quantity)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: शतशः (अव्यय)
• Form: परिमाण/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (adverb: 'by hundreds/in hundreds')

• रचिताः: placed, arranged
• रचिताः: Karta (कर्ता/subject-qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रच् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (qualifying शतघ्न्यः)

• वीरैः: by heroes
• वीरैः: Karana (करण/Agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• शतघ्न्यः: sataghnis (spiked missiles/engines)
• शतघ्न्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतघ्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• रक्षसाम्: of rakshasas
• रक्षसाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन

• गणैः: by troops
• गणैः: Karana (करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Context

"Its lofty golden boundary wall encrusted here and there with gems, corals, Vaiduryas and pearls is difficult to assail."

Characters & Entities

• Laṅkā
• prākāra (rampart)
• gold (sauvarṇa)
• maṇi (gems)
• vidruma (coral)
• vaidūrya
• muktā (pearls)

FAQs

What is the core ethical principle (Dharma) in this verse?

Splendor and wealth are not markers of dharma; the verse implicitly contrasts external magnificence with the moral causes that lead to conflict—inviting reflection on righteous purpose over material grandeur.

What is the narrative situation?

The narration continues to portray Laṅkā as both wealthy and militarily formidable through its jeweled golden defenses.

Which character virtue is emphasized?

Discernment: recognizing that impressive appearances (wealth/fortifications) do not determine moral rightness or ultimate outcome.